Alopecia: Cause & Natural Treatments: Self-Help!

Alopecia is a sudden and generally temporary loss of hair. There are two stages or types Alopecia areata is a disease that causes hair to fall out in small patches, which can remain unnoticeable. This disease develops when the immune system attacks the hair follicles, resulting in hair loss.

And alopecia universalis this being an advanced form of
alopecia areata, where the hair loss is far more extensive, often including
eyebrows and eyelashes. The condition affects mainly men, it’s known to also
affect women and children.

Although the exact cause of alopecia is unknown, it is
thought to be an autoimmune condition in which the person’s immune system
mistakenly attacks the hair follicles. Often drugs, medication, alcohol and
poor nutrition have played a role in the cause of this disease.

Can Alopecia be cured!

As I have told my clients over the years, no-one can say
that a “Disease can be Cured”. Because this is all dependant on how much damage
has occurred and to how much compliance the person receiving the treatment
brings into play.

As I have said to my clients, who have had success with changing lifestyle habits, implementing fresh food diets and including herbal, homeopathic and nutritional supplementation for the period of time necessary for the body to heal.

Standard
Medical Treatments

Currently a number of synthetic drugs are being tried such
as Corticosteroids, Dithranol, Tretinoin, Minoxidil, Zinc, Systemic Cortisone,
other irritants and immune-suppressive drugs, Finasteride, Azelaic acid are
also currently being used.

As you can see there is no singular drug therapy being used
and many of the above will have interactions that will cause further harm, with
no known reports of success.

The problem with using
medications such as the synthetic drugs mentioned they are not going to restore
hair growth, they will deplete your immune function that will make you more
susceptible to ill-health and at risk of other diseases such as cancer. There
are also a number of side effects such as skin sensitivity, redness to the skin
and severe itching of the skin.

Complimentary and Natural Treatments

These are the treatments that I have used over the years
with great success. However, the success does depend on what I have managed how
chronic the condition is, that is has it been long term, the amount of cellular
damage and last but not least the effort you put into your recovery process.

Why
Natural Remedies:

Herbal Remedies are highly effective when it comes to
restoration of cellular function and rejuvenation of organs and tissue. What is
important for healing is that there is enough healthy cells for restoration so
that rejuvenation of organs and tissue is possible. Herbal medicine, nutrition
and nutritional supplements fuel the body to assist with restoration and
rejuvenation from what is referred to as from an “Extra-cellular level.
Homeopathics and Mineral tissue salts which I will include next work within the
cells, to help with cellular rejuvenation and in many cases detoxification.

There is no doubt that pharmaceutical drugs have been found
to have in many cases serious side effects and no significant benefits when it
comes to supporting the body’s healing processes.

It is important when mentioning this that it is still important for quality, efficacy and to know that you are taking the correct medicine for your health problem to consult with a Qualified practitioner and not just to buy over the net without there being any knowledge of you or your condition. Also not all medicines are created equal and the cheapest is not always the best, neither is the most expensive.

B Vitamins – Help support healthy blood flow, Biotin found in a B Complex is specifically helpful for improving hair growth, combine this with a B12 supplement for additional support. Other vitamins which are often found in a good quality B supplement are – Vitamins C, D, E, Iron and Zinc

Herbs
to help with Alopecia

Saw
Palmetto – One of the health benefits of Saw Palmetto is to support
hair growth

Damiana
–
helps in supporting and balancing hormone levels therefore may help with
restoration of hair growth. Damiana contains constituents that help to support
brain and nervous function.

Bacopa – It
contains alkaloids that have been found to activate proteins responsible for
hair growth.

Gingko
Biloba: stimulates blood flow and improves circulation.

Burdock:
helps to promotes hair growth by improving blood circulation on the scalp and
drawing the necessary nutrients required to foster hair growth to the follicles.

Homeopathics
to help with Alopecia

Lycopodium –helps with anxiety and fear

Silicae – helps to strengthen hair follicles for regrowth

Nux Vomica – assists with detoxification of harmful chemicals from the body

Tissue
Salts

Nat
Mur:
For the correct distribution of fluid in the cells. For deep emotions, grief
and depression. Swollen extremities, water retention. Runny nose, watery eyes,
hay fever and mucous membrane symptoms also improve with Nat Mur and in conjunction
with Nat Sulph due to the detoxification support

Nat
Sulph: in conjunction with Nat Mur, it is nature’s diuretic. A
toxin cleanser and liver decongestant. Therefore helping to improve cellular
function and restoration due to the detoxification within each cell.

Julie’s
Just for You Stimulating Scalp Tonic

I have formulated this tonic that people have found helpful
including Rosemary oil increases peripheral circulation & brings nutrients
& oxygen to the tiny blood vessels where hair follicles are located. Other
essential oils include – Cedarwood, Clary Sage, Cinnamon, Lime and Ginger.

Apply a teaspoon full into the palm of your hand. Rub hands
together, then massage into your scalp. Using circular movements. This is to be
done just before bedtime, as this is when the majority of your hair growth
occurs. Whilst you are asleep. Shampoo and Condition hair in the morning

As with any disease or health problem the next step is what
you can do to get well.

Nutrition
and Diet

The first step with your daily eating is to begin
eliminating processed, deep fried foods and fast foods. Replacing these with food
such as freshly made salads, freshly cooked vegetables such as sweet potato,
pumpkin, kale, spinach, carrots, fruit such as apples, bananas, berries, nuts
such as almonds and walnuts, lean meat, chicken and fish.

When reading about this condition you will see that a diet
that will alkalize your system is considered optimal when regaining your
health. The reason for this being that when the body is highly acidic it is
prone to ill-health and disease, therefore by incorporating a diet that will
decrease the acidity and improve the alkalinity of your body will help both
prevent and overcome disease.

Keeping it simple most vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds have an alkalizing effect on the body, whilst red meat, baked and processed foods cause an increase in acid in your body. As does habits such as smoking, drinking alcohol and soft drink do.

Other fruit can include: rock melon, pineapple, apple or banana, you
can include a tablespoon of LSA for extra fibre

½ cup of Almond milk

A Refreshing inclusion can be fresh mint

Or Poached Eggs or Scrambled Eggs: with 1/2 – 1 cup of Spinach,
1 tomato, 1/2 cup mushrooms and some sliced onion on either spelt or
gluten free bread

Lunch:

#Roast Vegies or Salad & Protein

Stir fry some of your favourite vegetables—such as chopped Spanish
onion, pumpkin cook your pumpkin longer than any of your greens, broccoli,
zucchini these only need to be heated through,—drizzled with a good quality
olive oil; make some whole meal couscous Combine these with a small tin of
chickpeas and a handful of pine nuts.

In addition to the vegies, this meal gives you a serve
of Complex carbs, these are your healthy carbs: such as whole
grains, vegetables and nuts, a serve of protein and a serve of ‘good’ fats.Avoid Refined
Carbohydrates these are the dangerous carbs that you are
not meant to eat.

Changes to your lunch may include a fresh dark leafy green salad with
some chicken cooked the night before, or some salmon or other fish, other beans
that are delicious are butter beans

Preparing your lunch the night before I have found to be the easiest, by
say cooking some extra food at tea time. Sometimes I cook up enough Couscous
for the week and just add different things to eat. As alternatives I also have
wild rice, quinoa and brown rice.

Serving these with at least four vegetables such as sweet potato,
cauliflower, pumpkin, broccoli, kale, spinach, carrots, peas, cabbage etc.

Snacks during the day: can include non-sweetened yogurt
with fruit, 1 handful of roasted almonds you can include pumpkin and or sesame
seeds. If you haven’t had a smoothie for breakfast then you may like to have an
apple, banana or some other fruit during the day. Fruit is great to have
between meals as this is better for your digestion.

Last thing at night either have a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar or
Swedish bitters or a teaspoon of Bi Carb in a glass of tepid water prior to
bed.

Eliminate any Negative Habits such as Smoking, Excessive Drinking of
Alcohol, Drugs and minimize any prescribe medication also to check out the side
effects of these. Apart from the harm
they do to your body, they also deplete your body of vital nutrients.

Counselling, Life
Coaching and Support

It is a strength, not a weakness to seek support through these changes.
Seeking Professional support to guide and keep you on track with these
significant changes is what will help you to sustain these changes for the rest
of your life.

Exercise

Even if you have a physically active job it is still a good idea to get some other form of exercise or activity to help with your emotional well being. This may be swimming, walking, yoga, kick boxing, karate. The list is endless, it is important to engage in at least one or two different ones that you feel happy with and get a sense of satisfaction that helps you to feel better about YOU!

Additional Resources

eBook – Why Can’t I give up Smoking, uncovering the hidden secrets as to why you might well believe giving up smoking is so difficult to almost impossible. Knowing these secrets will help you to become a Non-smoker with ease giving you the much needed support that isn’t going to harm you or leave you feeling helpless.